12 Things Tourists Should Never Do When Visiting Spain

If you’ve just booked your flights to Spain for a summer vacation or city break, congratulations, you’ve made an excellent choice. Spain is a beautiful country renowned for its picturesque landscapes, vibrant coastlines, delicious food, and unique cultures. You’ll never be short of things to see and do.

However, while Spain is one of the world’s top tourist destinations and is accustomed to welcoming millions of tourists yearly, there are cultural differences and pitfalls worth remembering. Luckily, avoiding making mistakes is easy when you know what they are. Here are 12 things tourists should never do when visiting Spain.

Don’t Expect Shops and Restaurants To Be Open All Day

In most parts of Spain, especially in small towns, local people follow an old Siesta tradition. For those who don’t know, Siesta is a period in the day when people take a break to relax, eat, spend time with family, and escape the hot weather. As such, many shops, restaurants, and so on shut down during the day.

Across Spain, many shops and restaurants open in the morning or around lunchtime for a few hours before shutting again until the evening. Usually, shops and restaurants close from 1:00 or 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 or 5:00 p.m., although it’s not uncommon for many restaurants to reopen at approximately 7:30 or 8:00 p.m.

Never Try To See Too Much

As European countries go, Spain is relatively large, so you can’t possibly see everything the country has to offer in one trip. Suppose you try to cram in as many places as possible during one vacation. In that case, you’ll likely rush the places you visit, missing the main sights and authentic experiences.

You’ll also feel tired from all the traveling. Instead, pick a few places you can easily explore so you have plenty of time to get to know each destination and relax. Where you spend your trip will depend on your interests, but popular places include Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia.

Don’t Expect Large Breakfasts and Dinners

In Spain, the culture surrounding breakfast, lunch, and dinner differs significantly from other places worldwide. While countries like America and the United Kingdom believe in big breakfasts and dinners, the situation in Spain is often very different. In Spain, little importance is placed on breakfast and dinner.

Instead, Spanish people tend to eat a larger meal at lunchtime. Therefore, don’t expect large meals at breakfast or dinner. You’ll even find many Spanish restaurants don’t serve bigger meals at night. With that in mind, if you crave a mountain of seafood paella, you’re better off ordering it at lunchtime because most Spanish people don’t eat paella in the evening.

Never Travel To Spain Without Knowing Some Basic Phrases

If you can speak Spanish, you’re lucky because you can communicate with almost everybody in Spain. If you can’t, this next piece of advice is one of the most essential tips you can take away from our list. While you’ll likely meet many Spaniards who can speak at least some English, not every local you meet will speak your native tongue.

Spain has five national languages: Castilian, Catalan, Galician, Basque, and Aranese. However, Castilian is the only official language shared by all regions of Spain, so it’s handy to know some basic phrases so you can show respect and communicate with locals on a basic level. Here are some basic words you can use:

Hola = Hello
Adios = Goodbye
Por favor = Please
Gracias = Thank you

Don’t Tip Too Much in Restaurants

Unlike the United States and the United Kingdom, Spain doesn’t have an established tipping culture or minimum requirement. It’s unexpected, and you won’t be seen as rude for not leaving a tip. Therefore, you don’t have to leave a tip if you don’t want to, and you certainly don’t need to tip 20% like in America.

However, most businesses will accept a tip if you’d like to leave one because you enjoyed your meal and the service you received. To avoid overtipping, only tip 10%, which is generally considered a good tip. Also, before tipping, ensure a service charge hasn’t been included. You’ll see “servicio incluido” on your check if a service charge is included.

Don’t Assume You Can Always Pay For Things on Credit Card

Generally, you can use your credit or debit card to pay for most things in Spain, including restaurant meals, groceries, and accommodation. However, it would help if you didn’t assume that everything you buy during your trip can be purchased using a bank card. For example, many markets, small shops, taxis, and street vendors don’t accept credit cards.

Bearing this in mind, we recommend carrying some Euros with you when you can’t use your card to avoid disappointment when you can’t buy the souvenir you want. We also advise you to have cash on hand in various sizes because many small stores and street vendors won’t carry small change if you pay with big notes.

Never Flash Your Belongings

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This next tip applies to most countries worldwide, so don’t do it anywhere. Pickpocketing is common near popular tourist attractions in major tourist destinations, such as Barcelona and Madrid. To reduce the chance of you becoming a target for pickpockets, keep your belongings hidden and close by.

For example, don’t let potential pickpockets see you fumble around with your open bag at La Rambla in Barcelona. Don’t leave your phone on a table when eating outside a restaurant in Madrid’s Plaza Mayor. If you need to take your phone out or search through your bag, step inside a shop, cafe, or restaurant to avoid any large crowds where pickpockets could be on the prowl.

Don’t Turn Up To the Alhambra Without a Ticket

The Alhambra is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Spain. Located in Granada, Andalusia, it’s one of Islamic history’s best-preserved 13th and 14th-century palaces and fortresses. It also contains examples of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Due to its popularity and the restriction on daily visitors, you should buy your tickets in advance.

Most tickets are released three months in advance, and only a limited number are sold on the day. Therefore, buying your tickets in advance is essential to avoid being denied entry upon arrival. It’s also important to enter Alhambra at your indicated time slot. Late arrivals will not be permitted to enter the site.

Don’t Drink and Drive

It may seem super obvious and common sense, but you’ll be surprised by the number of people who drink and drive. While a few countries worldwide don’t have any rules or laws to stop drink-driving, Spain follows most countries by enforcing laws that make drink-driving illegal.

Not only is drunk driving immoral, it’s also incredibly dangerous. It only takes one mistake to cause someone or yourself serious harm. Of course, you could also face legal punishment if you’re pulled over and breathalyzed. To avoid any brushes with the law or serious accidents, don’t drive any vehicle after drinking alcohol. Take a bus or private taxi instead.

Never Skip a Queue

In Spain, people value respect and patience when queuing, so never disregard queuing etiquette unless you want a mob of angry locals to tell you off. Nobody likes to queue, but sometimes it’s necessary, especially when visiting famous tourist attractions. To avoid any arguments, patiently wait your turn wherever a line is formed.

While you unfortunately can’t avoid queues at shops, bus stops, and restaurants, you can save yourself some time and aggravation by purchasing tickets for tourist attractions in advance. By booking in advance, you can skip the queues to buy a ticket when you arrive. You can purchase tickets for tourist attractions on platforms like Viator and Get Your Guide.

Pack the Wrong Things

12 Hidden Gems in Spain Mijas, Malaga — © Alex Tihonov / Adobe Stock

Many tourists make the surprise mistake of packing the wrong gear when visiting Spain. Spain is a vast country with many different landscapes and climates, so what might be suitable for one place might not be ideal for another. For example, you shouldn’t pack flip-flops if you plan to visit the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.

Conversely, hiking boots are not needed for a beach getaway in Ibiza. Another significant mistake tourists make is assuming Spain is hot year-round. Unfortunately, it’s not, so if you visit Spain in winter, you’ll likely need to pack a winter coat and layers. On the other hand, don’t turn up to Marbella in July with long pants, a raincoat, and a jumper.

Never Wear Beachwear Away From the Beach

Spain might be famous for its stunning beaches, seaside resorts, and sparkling turquoise seas, but that doesn’t mean you should wear beachwear everywhere. In Spain, it’s important to dress appropriately when not relaxing on the sand. That means changing out of your swimming shorts or bikini.

Spaniards generally frown upon wearing swimsuits and other beach attire away from the beach, whether walking through a town center or visiting historical landmarks. In more conservative areas, such as churches, it can even be seen as disrespectful. Many restaurants, shops, and religious sites often have a dress code restricting visitors from wearing beach attire.